Gateway bypasses broadband with 'ready-made' music

Gateway has announced a deal with online music distributor Pressplay to ship PCs with 2,000 pre-installed songs from acts as diverse as bad boy rapper Eminem to old blue eyes himself Frank Sinatra.

The PC firm claims the offer removes the need for people to laboriously download the tracks themselves, a chore which particularly afflicts those using dial-up internet access.

The deal means Gateway customers receive a 90-day free trial with Pressplay, with the 2,000 tracks already installed and available for download or streaming from the PC's hard drive.

According to a report on Reuters other Pressplay subscription packages will also be available from Gateway through alternate hard drive deals.

The kick-back for Pressplay will be that it finds a way into consumers' homes. The company, formed by record giant Sony and Vivendi Universal, will be hoping that those who are impressed with the 90-day trial will chose to upgrade to the paid-for subscription service, with price-plans starting at $9.95 per month.

Gateway has been in a continuing decline for three consecutive quarters and will be hoping added-value offerings such as this may help it turn the corner.